Athletic shoe and cleat therefor



Dec. 30, 1941. H. NEWMAN ATHLETIC SHOE AND CLEAT THEREFOR F'i] ed July 19, 1940 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,268,057 ATHLETIC SHOE AND CLEAT THEREFOR Herbert Newman, New York, N. Y.

Application July 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,275

(Cl. Sii- 2.5)

Claims.

This invention relates to an athletic shoe and cleat therefor and more particularly to such `a shoe and cleat which are combined for use as a baseball shoe.

Conventional baseball shoes` have heretofore been provided with cleats on their tread surfaces which, due to their shape and relative arrangement on the shoe, do not provide proper balance to the wearer thereof. There is, therefore, present with conventional baseball shoes a resulting tendency of injury to the wearer thereof, occasioned by turned ankles; ankle sprains; undue strain of the muscles and ligaments of the foot, ankle and leg; and resulting weakening of the arches and pulled ligaments.

My invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of cleats which may be arranged on an athletic shoe so that tendency of such injury resulting from wearing of conventional shoes is greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated.

My invention further contemplates the provision of an athletic shoe `having cleats arranged thereon in such relative position that the bones of the foot of the wearer are properly support- `ed so as to minimize the possibility of breakdown of or accident to the bone structure.

My invention still further contemplates the provision of a baseball shoe having cleats arranged thereon in such relative position that muscle fatigue and muscle distortion resulting from wearing of a baseball shoe, provided with cleats, are eliminated.

My invention still further contemplates the provision of a baseball shoe having cleats arranged thereon vvhich are so positioned that they enable the wearer thereof to make a quickruni on in a natural manner giving the batter a firmer stance at the plate and in the field and enabling the pitcher to maintain proper balance on the pitching mound, thereby making it possible for the pitcher to have better control of the ball, when pitching. i

My invention still further provides cleats having spikes of such shape that serious injury from abrasions or cuts to opposing players resulting from accidental contact therewith is reduced.

My invention still further contemplates the provision of cleats so Shaped that dirt will not tend to collect thereon, which dirt-collecting tendency is present with conventiona1 baseball cleats. -Y

My invention still further contemplates the provision of cleats which may be properly tted tov the specific size of the baseball shoe with which they are combined as distinguished from present conventional practice wherein the `same size or shape of cleat is associated with a baseball shoe, irrespective of the shoe size. i

Further objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the underside ortread surface of a baseball shoe embodying my invention and having arranged thereon baseball cleats in accordance therewith.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing, in dotted lines, the skeleton bone structure of a foot encased by the shoe, the ankleencasing part of the shoe being partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is aA view in the direction of the arrows 3--3 of Fig. 1, the ankle-encasing part of the shoe being partly broken away. p

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cleat embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, I arrange on the tread surface l0 of the shoe I2at the toe part thereof the toe cleat I4, shaped and formed in accordance with my invention, as will hereinafter be described in detail. The toe cleat I4 comprises a band IB which terminates at each end thereof in the spur or conventionally termed spike I8. These spikes are rounded at their edges to preferably terminate in the substantially semispherical ends 20. Such construction reduces the probability of forming divots in the `turf of the playing field by eliminating sharp corners A,from the spikes which would cut thereinto, though it will be apparent that the cleats will nevertheless dig into the ground readily and rapidly as they have a wedge action in their progress thereover. In addition, this substantially semispherical shape will reduce the danger of abrasion or cutting of opposing players should they be accidentally struck 4by the spikes in the play of the game.

In order to provide my cleats with the long sought-for additional ground-gripping characteristics and to give support -to the player in many directions should the turf yield unevenly to the gripping `action of the cleat, I prefer to make the spikes convex in cross section.

It will be understood that the spikes of each. of the other cleats which are combined with my baseball shoe are also provided with similar spikes having rounded semispherical edges and convex cross sections. When describing in detail these other cleats, no further reference will, therefore, be made to those features of construction.

The length of band I6 of the toe cleat is such that the spikes I8 are disposed close to the .edge 22 of the shoe, just inside the conventional last stitching 24.

The band I6 of the toe cleat is arranged relatively forward on the front end of the shoe so that it will be disposed substantially under the inter-phalangeal joints 26 of the toes of the wearer of the shoe so that they will be provided with necessary support. The band I6 is preferably curved slightly to the rear of the shoe so that that spike adjacent the outer edge of vthe `shoe is positioned slightly in the rear of the other spike toward the heel. 'Ihe band I6 thereby conforms closely to the curved relative alignmen-t to each other of the inter-phalangeal joints vof the human foot. As distinguished from baseball shoes heretofore used, I provide a second or rear sole cleat 28 which is not rigidly secured or tied to the front sole cleat I4, but is separate and apart therefrom.

It will` be apparent that by thus providing separate sole cleats, each may be properly positioned on the sole of the shoe irrespective of the size thereof. This is not possible with the cleats heretofore' combined with baseball shoes, the spikes of which are all joined by a continuous tie and, therefore, inflexible, the same size of cleat being used for any size of shoe. My baseball shoe with its separate and unconnected cleats provides greaterflexibility in positioning the cleats relatively to the bone structure to give it support where desired and, therefore, will not strain the foot of the wearer in an unnatural position. On the contrary, the bone structure will always be permitted to assume a natural undistorted position.

In order to adequately support that concededly weakest part of the foot, I position the rear sole cleat 28 on my shoe so that' it will be substantially under the metatarsal heads 30 of the foot of the wearer.

The band 32 of the rear sole cleat 28 is slightly curved toward the rear so that the spike 34,

adjacent the outer edge of the shoe, is positioned in back of the spike 36; that is, fur-ther toward the heel.

It is well known that the metatarsal heads of `the human foot lie in a curve or arc, the fifth metatarsal head tapering back of the iirst metatarsal head; that is the fifth metatarsal head is further toward the heel than is the first metatarsal head.

, The yband 32 of my rear sole cleatis, therefore, arranged to generally conform to the curvilinear relative alignment of the metatarsal i heads to each other so that the metatarsal arch 'will be fully supported. The spikes 34 and 36 of my rear sole cleat 28 are positioned as close to the edge 22 of the shoe l2 as is possible, that g is they are also placed just inside of the stitch- .ing 24. Y. It will be at once apparent that by providing separate and unrelated front and rear sole cleats of the shape and in the position described, I provide a shoe, the cleat of which will support the join-ts of the bone structure in their natural relationship.

The conventional baseball shoe has its clea positioned in advance of the metatarsal arch, thereby not only failing to support it, but actually flexing the toes continually upward putting considerable strain on the metatarsal and longitudinal arches. It is this dorsi flexion of the toes, which, with the resulting sagging of the longitudinal arch, puts a great strain on the foot, yankle and leg muscles and ligaments resulting in weakening of the arches and rheumatic muscle pains sometimes referred to by baseball players as a Charley horse.

By using separate sole cleats, which are unattached to each other, I have made possible proper balance irrespective of the size of the shoe. It will be apparent that the two cleats may be positioned on the tread surface so that they will lie under such structure which, as described, it is intended that they support. It will be understood of course, that the width of each cleat will vary somewhat with each shoe size. Thus, it will be recognized that one pair of cleats will satisfy two or three different sizes of shoes so that it will be necessary to provide cleats of possibly only three or four different sizes to enable them to be properly positioned on different size shoes. The spikes of the rear sole cleat are preferably shorter than the spikes of the front sole cleat. In actual practice, I have made satisfactory cleats in which the spikes of the front sole cleat have been of an inch in length and the spikes of the rear sole cleat 3A; of an inch in length. This enables practically simultaneous contact with the ground by the spikes of each cleat, thereby properly distributing the weight of the wearer and providing immediate gripping action for quick and rapid starting.

It will be at once apparent that the sole cleats concerned with herein are differentI from the conventional baseball shoe cleat. First, I provide a separate cleat which is placed under and at the best slightly in the rear of the metatarsal arch, cleats 34 and 36 being placed substantially under the firstI and fth metatarsal heads and connected with a band which is shaped so that it will conform to the alignment of the metatarsal bones. Second, by positioning the spikes of both the front and rear cleats as close as possible to the edges of the shoe, a relatively wide spread therebetween is provided, giving better bearing or purchase on the ground. This obviates the rocking effect or resulting unbalance, which results with conventional baseball shoes, from arranging the spikes closer to each other near the center of the foot. Third, the rear cleat is placed under the ball of the foot and the front cleat adjacent the toes so that the body weight is properly distributed thereon. In the conventional baseball shoe, on the contrary, the body weight is placed on the foot in advance of this natural bearing point which is left unsupported since the cleats are placed forward toward the toes beyond `the ball ofthe foot of the wearer of such shoe.

In order to provide means for suitably secur- `ingmy cleats to the shoe so that the rivets holding` them thereto will not in use tear. the leather, I prefer to provide between the conventional upper sole 38 and lower sole 40 a metal plate42.

This'plate is made as thin as possible` so that `of ileather forming the heel. `plates of relatively short width, substantially that `of `each metal band, likewise may be substituted `for `this plate.

'it jwill not place undue rigidity `on `the sole of the shoe. Mycleats are affixed thereto by any suitable means, such as the rivets 44. Such plates serve the functions of washers to positively secure the rivets in place and prevent any undue strain, in use, to be directly transmitted to the soft leather. `Such plates in addition serve to reenforce the supporting action of the metal `bands of the cleats.

fIt will be understood that the central portion- 461 of these plates `may be made thinner than those end portions thereof adjacent the cleat bands, thereby increasing the ilexibility of the shoe. If desired, this central portion of the plate may be eliminated, a smaller plate, of Width just `slightly larger `than the band thereof, being used for each cleat.

I provide, on the heel of the shoe, two cleats of substantially the same construction as the ,sole

cleats. Cleat lil is `arranged substantially ad-` i jacent the end of the heel of the shoe. The length of metal band Ell between the spikes 52 and 54 is such that spikes are positioned adja- `cent the `edges of the shoe just within the conventional `stitching 24. The band 50 of the rear` heel cleat `is preferably curved somewhat so that it` will .conform slightly 4to the configuration of `the conventional heel and will dispose the spike 52 slightly to the rear of the spike 5d.

`The front heel cleat 5t is somewhat Wider than the rear heel cleat so that the spikes 58 Yand 6!! thereof will also be positioned adjacent the edges of the heel.

The `front heel cleat 56 is arranged `on the shoe `so `that the band El thereof is positioned sub- ,stantially underneath the astragalo-scaphoid joint 65, Which is the keystone of the arch, thereby adding to the support of the longitudinal arch. `It will be at once apparent that the front heel Acleat supports the os calcis completely throughout its Width.

In order to provide satisfactory means for securing the heel cleats on the shoe, I provide the plate G8 which is arranged between the layers If desired, two

It will, of course, be understood that` such plate is preferably relatively thin to reduce its weight to a minimum and will primarily be a tie washer to suitably retain the cleats on the heel. The spikes of both heel cleats areypreferably somewhat .shorter than the spikes ofthe front sole cleat but somewhat larger than the lengthof the rear sole cleat. in `actual practice that a length of spike of 4/8 `of `an inch is extremely satisfactory.

As will now be apparent, I have provided an athletic shoe that his eight spikes, uniformly disposed adjacent the edges of the shoe, in con- `trast to the conventional shoe having two cleats, each of which has three spikes, my structure overcoming the stilt-like feeling of unbalance of the conventional athletic shoe.

I prefer to construct my cleats of copper niaterial to reduce their weight and eliminate rusting thereof, though it will `be understood that they may be constructed of any other suitable metal.

It will be apparent that`I have provided athletic shoes having cleats that are positioned to alord better balance, iirmerstance at the plate and in the eld and that will enable the pitcher in a baseball game to better maintain his bal- I have found ance on the pitching mound, thereby providing better control. y

It will be further `apparent that I haveprovided cleats that maybe positioned on an athletic shoe to provide proper support tothe foot structure to thereby prevent turning of ankles, ankle sprains and a shoe which will not strain the muscles of the foot, ankle or leg orcause breakdownof the forefoot of the wearer.

It will be further apparent that my athletic shoe will `enable the muscles of the wearer to be properly coordinated in any strenuous athletic activity. i

`While myinvention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are illustrative and are not given as limitations since other modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will `be apparent to those `skilled in the art.

Hence, the invention is to be understood as limited only as indicated in the appended claims in which the intent is to set forth all `the novelty over the prior art.

I claim:

1. An athletic shoe having a pair of separate sole cleats and a pair of separate heel cleats, one of said sole cleats arranged -on the tread surface toward the front end of the sole and the other sole cleat arranged on the tread surface toward the rear end of the sole, one of said heel cleats being arranged on the tread surface to- Ward the front end of the heel and the other heel cleat arranged on the tread surface toward the rear end of the heel.

2. An athletic shoe having a pair of sole cleats `and a `pair of heel cleats, each of said cleats toward therear end of the sole, one of said heel cleats arranged toward the front end of the heel and the other `heel cleat arranged toward the rear end of the heel.

mally assumed by the metatarsal heads of the Y bone structure of the footof the wearer thereof, one of said heel cleats being arranged on the shoe substantially `under the position the shoe normally assumed by the astragalo-scaphoid joint of the wearer thereof and the other heel cleat being arranged fon the shoe substantially adjacent the rear edge of the heel.

4. An athletic shoe including a cleat arranged on the tread surface thereof adjacent the rear end of the sole, said cleat comprising a curvilinear band terminating at each end thereof adjacent an edge of the shoe in a spike extending away from the band, the band being slightly curved to uniformly taper toward the heel of the shoe from the spike adjacent the inside edge of the shoe to the spike adjacent the outside edge of` the shoe, the curve of said band substantially conforming to the relative alignment normally assumed by the metatarsalheads of the bone structure of the foot of the wearer of the shoe 5. An athletic shoe having a pair of sole cleats and a pair of heel cleats, each of said cleats being secured to the treadvsurface of the shoe, each of said cleats comprising a band terminating at each ,end in a spike extending away from the band, one of the sole cleats arranged adjacent the front end of the sole and the other sole cleat arranged adjacent the rear' en-d of the sole, one of the heel cleats being arranged adjacent the front end of the heel and the other heel cleat arranged adjacent the rear end of the heel, the band of each cleat extending substantially across the width of the shoe to thereby dispose each spike thereof closely adjacent an edge of the shoe.

6. A cleat for a baseball shoe comprising a band adapted to be attached to the tread surface of the shoe and a spike at each endof the band, said spike being convex in vertical cross section and terminating at its end in a semi-spherical edge.

7. In an athletic shoe, a pair of sole cleats, each comprising a band and a spike at each end of' the band and extending away therefrom, fone of said sole cleats being secured to the said surface of the shoe adjacent the front edge of the shoe to position a spike thereof adjacent each side edge of the shoe, the band of said rst cleat being slightly curved to uniformly taper toward the heel of the shoe from the spike adjacent the inside edge of the shoe to the spike adjacent the outside edge of the shoe, the band of said cleat being thereby positioned substantially under the position normally assumed' in the shoe by the inter-phalangeal joints of the toes of the wearer of the shoe, said band extending substantially across the Width of the shoe at the tread surface to which it is secured, the other cleat being secured to the tread surface of the shoe adjacent the rear end of the sole to position a spike thereof adjacent each side edge of the shoe, the band of said second cleat being slightly curved to uniformly taper toward the heel of the shoe from the spike adjacent the inside edge of shoe to the spike adjacent the outside edge of the shoe, said second mentioned cleat being thereby positioned substantially under the relative position normally assumed in the shoe by the metatarsal heads of the bone structure of the foot of the wearer of the shoe, the band of said second mentioned cleat extending substantially across the width of the shoe at the tread surface to which itis secured.

8. An athletic shoe having a pair of sole cleats and a pair of heel cleats, each of said cleats comprising a band having at each end thereof a spike extending therefrom, one of said sole cleats being secured to the tread surface of the shoe adjacent the front end of the sole, each of the spikes of said cleat being arranged adjacent an edge of the shoe, said band being curved to thereby dispose the cleat adjacent the outer edge of the shoe slightly in the rear of the cleat arranged adjacent the inner edge of the sole, thev other sole cleat being secured to thetread surface adjacent the rear end of the sole, each of the spikes of the second mentioned sole cleat being disposed adjacent the edges of the shoe, the band of the second mentioned sole cleat being curved to thereby dispose the spike of the second mentioned sole cleat adjacent the outer edge of the shoe slightly toward the rear of the spike of the second mentioned cleat adjacent the inner edge of the sole, one of the heel cleats being arranged on the tread surface of the shoe adjacent the front end of the heel, each spike of said heel cleat being arranged adjacent an edge of the heel, the spike arranged adjacent the outer edge of the shoe being disposed slightly to the rear of the spike of i said heel cleat arranged adjacent the inner edge of the heel, the other heel cleat being arranged adjacent the rear end of the heel, each spike of the second mentioned heel cleat being disposed adjacent an edge of the heel, the band of the second mentioned heel cleat being slightly curved to position the spike of the said cleat adjacent the outer edge of the shoe slightly toward the front of the spike adjacent the inner edge of the shoe.

9. A cleat for an athletic shoe to be arranged on the tread surface of the sole thereof substantially under the position normally assumed in the said shoe by the metatarsal heads of the bone structure of the foot of the wearer of said shoe, comprising a band adapted to be secured to the said shoe, said band having a spike at each end thereof extending away from the band, said band of such width as to position a spike of the band adjacent a side edge of the shoe on which it is arranged, said band having a slightly curvilinear outline uniformly tapering toward the rear of the shoe and conforming to the outline configuration of the`normal relative alignment of the metatarsal heads of a human foot, said band thereby supporting the metatarsal arch of the foot encased in the said shoe.

10. A cleat for an athletic shoe to be arranged on the tread surface of the sole thereof substantially under the position normally assumed in the said shoe by the inter-phalangeal joints of the toes of the wearer of the shoe, said cleat comprising a band adapted to be secured to the said shoe, said band having a spike at each end thereof extending away from the band, said band of such width as to position a spike on the band adjacent a side edge of the shoe on which it is arranged under the position normally assumed in the said shoe by the inter-phalangeal joints of the toes of the wearer of the shoe, said band having a slightly curvilinear outline uniformly tapering toward the rear of the shoe and conforming to the outline configuration of the normal relative alignment of the inter-phalangeal joints of the toes of a human foot, said band thereby supporting the said inter-phalangeal toe joints of the foot encased in the said shoe.

HERBERT NEWMAN. 

